FLASHBACK: VP Taylor during a visit to Bong County some time ago
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
Monrovia- Liberian Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor has declined to publically endorse any candidate from her ruling CDC party or any other in the upcoming December 8 Senatorial elections and two By-elections in Montserrado County.
“When you look at the spectrum from the national level, it’s difficult to be definite on who to support but I pray that God will help to direct us in the choices that will be made.” the Liberian Vice President told the state owned ELBC radio morning show, Super Morning Show on Thursday.
As she recovers from illness in Ghana, the Liberian Vice President urged Liberians and political aspirants to do away with violence.
VP Taylor said she only has one vote in Bong County and at the moment she cannot tell who she will support in the election until she returns to the country. Her party, NPP is party of the ruling three-party CDC which is fielding incumbent Senator Henry Yallah in the upcoming senatorial polls.
Said she: “The question of supporting a particular candidate goes to every Liberian today. What is it we want to see? What kind of leaders are we looking for?”
VP Taylor says it is not about political party or individuals but people can build the nation, promising to return from her sick bed in Accra, Ghana. She acknowledged that some people might not like it and called on Liberians not to be personal.
Rumors about her illness
VP Taylor confirmed that she was tested positive of COVID-19 coupled with Pneumonia and Asthma, which situation led her to be in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for 35 days.
Before the Vice President was speedily flown to Accra, Ghana, many Liberians were on Facebook posting about her death news. But she blessed God that she is alive because her mission earth has been over.
The Liberia’s Vice President said although the enemy wanted to see her down fall, she said that the Bible says the heart of a man is desperately wicked and no man knoweth not but God don’t doesn’t look at size, neither faces nor beautiful.
VP Taylor on the Code of Conduct.
The Liberian Vice President expressed her disappointment over the constant violations of the code of conduct by public officials.
She said it very saddened that public officials chose to closed their eyes on document that was put together by the Legislature and it was agreed upon for everyone to obey but it is now being violated.
Mrs. Taylor added that she can recalled that during former president Sirleaf’s regime, the former Liberian leader’s feet was held in the fire for the passage of the code of conduct and seeing that public officials are following is sad.
According to her, the recent trucking of people during this election period is a violation of the code of conduct.
Narrating further, the second in command of the Liberia government said that people who allowed themselves to be trucked by politicians to another county cannot hold or put their lawmakers’ feet on fire, because they have their decision in another country.
VP Taylor maintained that if politicians want to be elected, they should they themselves to go to the citizens with their formulas, platforms and what they are bringing to the table rather than trucking people.
The voting process should not be characterized by forced, intimation or harrassment, Mrs Taylor said.
But rather, it is the majority will of the people as some officials and local government officials have been threatened to vote for a particular candidate or risk losing their job something she said it bad for democracy.
VP on Rape
On the issue of rape, the Vice President spoke of the need to urgently address the underlying causes of this menace.
She maintained that the issue of rape, empowerment and opportunity are everyday issue and just discussing it won’t change anything, but Liberia must do something about it.
The issue of rape should be the concern of everyone and as such, everyone should bring their ideas on board to solve this pandemic rape .
Liberia’s VP added that people should go in various communities including the church, community leaders as well as families, especially mothers shall stand up for their girl children.
According to the Vice President, she wished the law could become more stranger in dealing with rape issues and it should not be government alone.